Some good progress to report on D6566's overhaul as we start one of our two annual work weeks, where active volunteers also come down during the week as well.

Terry writes.Saturday saw 33057 taking Hymek D7017 in tow to be turned on the Norton Triangle, 7017 will be the "right" way around the enter the works at Williton. Some photos below of 33057 & 7017 at the Barnstable end of the Norton Triangle and at the Taunton end of the Norton Triangle. Meanwhile the oil strainers and final "bottom end" fittings are being secured on the replacement/overhauled Paxman engine for D9526, which continues to progress well.

Ian updates us on D6566.The loco was moved outside of the shed on Saturday and prepared for the first attempted engine start following it’s overhaul.Some preparatory work was performed over the weekend and on Monday James Cox and Dan Bennett from the 71A Loco Group, Swanage Railway, attended to offer their experience of starting Class 33s following “major surgery”. The temporary fuel supply devised by Bob C was connected and an air supply was provided to operate the start contactors from a portable compressor as the air system is not yet complete.Firstly, one of the crankcase doors was removed and the engine cranked over with fuel supply isolated to monitor for anything untoward. Everything was deemed to be satisfactory so the the crankcase door was re-fitted and the controls set up to do a normal local engine start.Once sufficient oil pressure was indicated the start button was pressed and following a period of cranking with the fuel rack manually opened the engine fired and burst into life for the first time in over three years.The engine was allowed to run for around twenty minutes and a number of checks were performed including measurements by Bob of the exhaust temperatures to confirm that all cylinders were firing and then stopped for a period to allow the crankcase gasses to reside. Following this the crankcase door was again removed and an internal examination performed including measurement of the big end and main bearing temperatures to ensure nothing was running hot. All was deemed to be well so the crankcase door was replaced and the engine again started and allowed to run for a further approx. 45 minutes.A few peripheral issues were noted including coolant leaks from the turbocharger and an overheating electrical stud but all was generally considered to be satisfactory and is a major step forward in the loco’s overhaul programme.